Car-buffer.



PATENTED JULY 23, .190'7.

1). B. THOMPSON. GAR BUFFER. APPLIQATIOH FILED JAN. 23, 1901.

2 sumssum 1.

I Swtwwioz [CT/1077015072 attain;

rues m, WASHINGTON, n. c.

PA'IENTED JULY 23, 1907.

D. B. THOMPSON.

OAR BUFFER. APPLICATION FILED JAH.23, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

f1 Horn: 8

THE NORRIS PIQBBS CO1. WISHINDTON, D. C

I DANIEL E. THOMPSON, OF DANVILLE, ILLINOIS.

CAR-BUFFER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 1907.

Application filed January 23, 1907. Serial No. 353,744.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL E. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Danville, in the county of Vermilion and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Car-B uffer s, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in car buffers designed particularly for use on freight cars to take up and absorb shocks and jars from impacts, the object of the invention being to provide a simple, strong and durable construction of buffer embodying a follower and cushioning springs arranged to take up jars and shocks in an efficient manner.

In the accompanying drawings,-Figure 1 is a front elevation of a car buffer embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, omitting the follower. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the follower. Fig. 5 is a cross section on line 5-5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a front elevation showing a modified construction. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 8 is a vertical section on line 88 of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the follower employed in this form of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive,.of the drawings, 1 designates the body of the buffer comprising a cast metal plate provided with bottom flanges 2, the plate and flanges being respectively provided with openings 1 and 2 for the passage of suitable fastenings to secure the device to the end sill of a car. Openings 1 are also provided in the plate for suitable truss-rods.

The plate is further provided with a forwardly extending chamber or casing 4 formed of top and side walls 5 and 6, the said chamber being open at its front and bottom, the side walls 6, however, having guide ledges or shoulders 7 at the base of the chamber. Flanges 8 are formed upon the plate and connect the same with the walls 5 and 6 and form braces or strength.- ening connections for said walls.

Arranged to slide within the chamber is a bumper head or follower 9, comprising a rectangular outer head 10 conforming in general contour to the casing or chamber, and having a rectangular base plate 11 and a circular body portion 12, the latter being provided with upper outwardly inclined ribs 13 arranged to slidably engage the upper corners of the casing at the angles of intersection of the walls 4 and 6 and thus effectively guide the follower in its movements. The base plate 11 rests and slides upon the ledges or shoulders 7 and is provided with a rearward extension 14 projecting .under the body portion of the plate and extending rearwardly therefrom a sufficient distance to permit the follower to have the requisite range of movement in the casing. The inner end of the extension 11 carries a pin or other suitable stop member 1.5 adapted to abut against the back of the plate to limit the outward movement of the follower.

Light and heavy buffer springs 16 and 17 are arranged within the casing and follower, the plate 1 being provided with a stud 18 and the head 9 with a recess 19 to form seats for the ends of the spring to maintain the same in proper relative position. The heavy buffer spring 17 surrounds the spring 1.6 and bears at its ends against the body plate and head 10. The spring 17 is designed to come into action when the pressure of the spring 16 is overcome, when both springs coact to resist inward movement of the follower, thereby cushioning the shock of impact. When the springs are completely compressed to limit all inward movement of the follower a solid backing is formed thereby to stay the'latter from further inward movement. The construction described provides a slot or opening 20 in the plate below the buffer mechanism for the passage of the draw bar.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, the construction of the plate 1 is the same as that previously described in connection with Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive. The follower 9, however, is modified in construction and comprises a solid block or head 20 having a rearwardly projecting base plate 21 adapted to extend under the rear wall of the chamber 4. The follower is provided on its inner or rear side with a chamber or recess 22, and has an opening communicating with this recess through which extends a securing and guide bolt 23. The head of the bolt is countersunk in a recess in the outer side or wall of the follower, and its opposite or threaded end extends through an open ing in the rear wall of the chamber 4 and is equipped with a nut 24 to hold the bolt in applied position.

Springs 25 and 26 are coiled around the bolt, and are arranged one within the other as in the previous construction, and bear at their rear ends against the rear wall of the chamber 4 and are seated at their forward ends in the recess 22 in the follower. This construction provides a follower of maximum strength to sustain the impact of shocks and by the construction described the use of the pin or key 15 is dispensed with, as the bolt 23 acts both as a guiding and securing means.

It will be seen that the construction of the device is simple and that the casing and follower form a complete E guides being provided at the bottom of the casing, and the plate having an opening below said guides, a follower movable in said casing and having its bottom wall engaging said guides, said bottom wall being provided with a rearward extension, a stop carried by said extension to limit the outward movement of the follower, and springs within the follower between the same and plate.

2. A car buffer comprising a plate having walls extendingtherefrom and forming a casing open at its outer and undersides, said plate being provided with an opening below said casing and the side walls with guide shoulders at the lower end thereof, a follower movable within the easing and having a bottom wall resting on said guides, and springs arranged within the follower and interposed between the same and the plate.

3. A ear buli'er comprising a plate having walls extending forwardly therefrom and forming a casing open at its outer and undersides, the plate being provided with a draw bar openingbelow said casing and the side walls of the latter having guide shoulders or ledges at the bottom of the casing, a follower slidable in said casing and having a reetangular head and a rectangular base plate, and a circular body portion provided with flanges to bear against the walls of the casing at their corner portions, said bottom wall being provided with an extension projecting in rear of the plate, the bottom wall being disposed to slide upon the guide ledges, a stop carried by said extension to limit 'said slot and bottom of the casing,

the outward movement of the follower, and springs arranged within the follower between the head thereof and the plate.

4. A car buifer comprising a plate provided with a forwardly extending casing at its outer and undersides, said plate being provided with a slot below the underside of the casing and guide shoulders, a follower movable in said casing and on said shoulders, means for limiting the outward movement of the follower, and a spring inclosed within the casing and between the plate and follower for cushioning the movement of the latter.

5. A car buffer comprising a plate having walls extending forwardly therefrom and forming the top and sides of a bottomless casing, the plate beingprovided with a slot below the casing and guide shoulders at the juncture of a follower slidably mounted in the casing and resting on said shoulders, and means for retaining the follower in the casing and cushioning the movement thereof.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL E. THOMPSON.

Witnesses JAs, II. PHILLIPS, Cruanns WATKINS. 

